Friday, 12 December 2014

With equities falling into the Friday close, the VIX climbed higher for the fifth consecutive day, settling +5.0% @ 21.08 (intra spike high 23.06). Near term outlook is for a key equity floor around sp'2000, with the VIX cooling into year end.. and beyond.

The week ended with some rather significant declines, sp -33pts @ 2002. The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled lower by -1.0% and -1.2% respectively. Outlook is that market is about to form a key floor around sp'2000.. and then up to the 2100s... and beyond.

sp'60min

Summary

Well, my closing hour targets were met.. not least with Dow -300pts and VIX 22s, which was especially pleasing to see.

Mr Market has given the bull maniacs a good scare into the weekend ;)
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Have a good weekend everyone.
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*A full set of closing updates to wrap up the week!

US equities look set for continued weakness into the close. A daily close in the sp'2010/00 zone looks very viable, along with VIX 22/23s. Oil remains crushed...settling the weak -3% in the $57s.. a short term floor is 'almost' in. Metals are melting lower, Gold -$3

sp'daily5

Summary

Its been a long.. but rather interesting week...

Lets see if the bears can break a new low in the closing hour...

Best guess... sp'2008/06.. with Dow -290/310pts.... along with VIX 22s
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3.21pm.. Dpw -204pts... hmm... still time for another sig' wave lower...

Anyway... holding to prime target of sp'2000.. where there multiple aspects of support.

US equities remain lower, and considering the recent price action, a weekly close in the sp'2010/00 zone looks very viable.. along with VIX 22/23s. Energy prices are mixed, Nat 'gas +3.5%, with Oil -2.6%. Metals are slowly melting lower, Gold -$3... with the miner ETF of GDX -1.0%.

sp'60min

Summary

It remains an interesting day... I'm seeking renewed weakness into the close.

A hit of the sp'2000 level certainly seems more viable next Mon/Tuesday, than today. Regardless.. a day.. and week for the bears.
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Whilst some equity bears are (somewhat understandably) getting excited at today's declines, the window of opportunity for the bears is closing. Next Wednesday's FOMC will likely be a key turn... back upward into year end.. and beyond.

sp'60min

Summary

Not much to add.

Seeking renewed weakness into the late afternoon.
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The Cheniere CEO appeared on clown TV...

TV appearance = UP

Not surprisingly, LNG stock spiked... the higher Nat' gas prices are also helping.

After a very messy open, equities have turned significantly lower, with a new cycle low of sp'2013.. along with VIX 21.09. The giant threshold of sp'2000 could be tested before the weekly close.. along with VIX 22/23s. Oil remains in collapse mode, -3.4% in the $57s

sp'daily3

VIX'daily3

Summary

Suffice to say... the bulk of the down wave from sp'2079 is likely now complete.
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Oil is approaching key long term trend support around $55.

Watching clown TV just now.. Santelli on CNBC just highlighted a target of $55.. although for somewhat different reasons.
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Equities open lower, but there is a reversal from the open, not least reflected in the VIX swinging from 20.67 to 19.04. Oil remains under severe pressure, -2.0%. Metals are cooling, Gold -$3... despite a weak USD -0.5%.

sp'60min

VIX'60min

Summary

So... opening declines, but a clear reversal underway.

The only issue is whether it will reverse some time after late morning.. I would guess.. yes, but for those day traders out there.. they'd surely already have bailed at the open.
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The 'natural' target remains the giant sp'2000 threshold, where the 50dma is lurking.
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Good morning. Futures are moderately lower, sp -13pts, we're set to open at 2022. If equity bears are going to have a chance of 2000 before the FOMC, a weekly close in the 2020/10s will be necessary. VIX looks set for secondary target zone of 22/25.

Whilst WTIC Oil lost the $60 threshold today, even more interesting were some of the things I was reading. There seems to be a truly bizarre amount of twisted thinking when it comes to energy prices. Many are either seething with anger about high prices, or are freaking out that low prices will cause a systemic crisis.

WTIC, monthly'2, rainbow

Summary

Across the last few days.. I've read some truly batshit crazy analysis/commentary on the continuing decline in oil prices. Seriously, what is up with (almost) everyone lately?

Since 2011, Oil prices have been trading largely sideways. Many market commentators (whether online, or on mainstream clown finance TV) regularly become overly twitchy when prices were near $120... or equally unsettled when prices cooled to around $90.

With prices having now collapsed from a cycle peak of $107 (June) to today's new cycle low of $58.96... here is a selection of some of the concerns...

-Low prices across extended period, lead to sig' US production drop off, with greater reliance on middle east oil

-Low prices, with some countries (Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, or Russia for instance) having serious budgetary problems... resulting in social unrest, or even wider geo-political upset.
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One of the more notable claims I've been told is that OPEC has no ability to manipulate prices. Really? I find that utterly incredulous. OPEC is a well recognised cartel, whose sole objective is to maximise revenue for each of its member nations. Nothing more... nothing less. Sure, they don't always achieve that goal, but they sure as hell give it a damn good try.

At some point in the first half of next year we'll see serious action by OPEC to cut production, but of course.. they will be a very significant amount of 'No!..... you cut first' bitching and whining from most member countries.

Why did oil drop anyway?

No doubt, a part of the ongoing drop is pure market driven. With the break of $90, market momentum has cascaded, and spiralled prices far below where they might be expected to be... relative to the recent minor changes in supply/demand.

Further as most seem to also overlook, a very minor change in demand..or supply can have a HUGE impact on prices. Some have claimed a 'demand collapse'.. which is pure crazy talk. Demand remains very consistent.. as does global supply.

The bigger picture

Just consider this twenty year perspective...

WTIC Oil, monthly'1

Yes.. there is indeed long term trend support fast approaching in the mid/upper $50s. No doubt.. that will be a prime level for a sig' bounce of $10/15 in Q1 of next year. However, considering OPEC are still refusing to even agree on any initial cuts... the $40s seem likely at some point next year.. maybe even 30s.

Lower prices... BULLISH

Without question... lower prices are beneficial to EVERYONE on the planet.. whether its via transport costs, energy (direct heating, or via utility power)... or via reduced input/production costs for manufacturing.

If the lower prices lead to a few hedge funds.. or oil producers going bankrupt... I DO NOT CARE. Let them go under, can we allow market forces to prevail?
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Meanwhile... over in Russia

With energy prices still sliding, it was another dire day for the Russian market...

Russia, monthly

A daily decline of -3.3%... with a new multi-year low of 817. If 800 fails... then mid 500s are coming in the spring. From there... даже я бы рассмотреть возможность покупки российского ETF. :)

Looking ahead

The week will conclude with PPI and consumer sentiment. That should be enough to wake a few traders up in early morning.
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US equities built strong gains across the morning, but saw some very significant weakness into the close, sp +9pts @ 2035 (intra high 2055). The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled higher by 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. Near term outlook is for another wave lower to sp'2000.

sp'daily3 - fib retrace

Trans

Summary

There is little to add.

A 'fair' downside target remains the giant sp'2000 threshold - where the 50dma is lurking, before next Wed' FOMC.

At best.. equity bears might manage a brief break.. to the 38% fib retrace of 1980, but odds on that are 'low'
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